Diarikom : The Red Star of the Reds - A short story about Plattenbaus

Friday, 8 August 2014

The Red Star of the Reds - A short story about Plattenbaus

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Veszprem in Hungary - by Nigel A JAMES

The Red Star of the Reds – A short story about plattenbaus

listen to ‘Plattenbaus - A Short Story’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Red Star - Slow recording with read vocabulary’ on Audioboo

The red stars, and statues of Lenin and Stalin may have gone from the face of the old Soviet block, but there is still one reminder that takes us straight back to the heart of the Communist era. And, that is the plattenbaus. They are still to be seen all over the once eastern block.

Built as of the 1950s, these enormous blocks of flats made of concrete slabs were not only designed to make everyone equal in true Leninist style, but also to counter the homelessness caused by the war. And, they were, to a certain extent, successful. Each apartment came with its own WC, bathroom, simple kitchen, hot and cold running water and heating. But, despite these advantages, the plattenbaus were not very popular.

With their grim characterless oneness, they offered very little privacy. The walls were so thin that everyone was able to hear what everyone else was saying and doing. And, on fine summer days with windows wide open, everyone knew what everyone else was having for lunch. The air was alive with a cocktail of kitchen smells, babies crying, children screaming, loud music and talking and squabbling! The smell of cabbage cooking carries a very long way! But, there was something else, too.

The plattenbaus were all part of a plan. A big social plan. Points were needed in order to be awarded an apartment (and, for many people there was no alternative). And the biggest scorers were children. The more children you had, the better your chances. But, unfortunately, big families were not always easy, and, quite often it was the peace of living that suffered. But, that's how things were. And, of course, with children came life!

And life always manages to find its own course. And, because plattenbaus were always built on huge estates on the edges of towns, there was always a long way to go to the nearest shops and facilities. And, so it was, that these estates became the ideal places for small businesses and services. There were, and still are, in and amongst the plattenbaus, many small shops such as hairdressers, small grocery stores and even sometimes friendly bars. And, each estate was provided with a kindergarten, playground and school.

Of course, there are similar constructions in the rest of Europe. Apartment blocks built out of concrete slabs are not unusual. But, wherever you go in the “west”, you will never find anything like the plattenbaus of the “former east”. The character of these buildings is their style, and style is a thing that's unique. And, when it comes to comfort, the plattenbaus have just as much chance as everything else. In your own four walls you can do what you like; nice living is nothing other than taste!

But, of course, life in the plattenbaus has reached its own social level. There are as many close friendships and neighbourly contacts as there are everywhere else. Its human nature. And, therefore, life in the plattenbaus is set to continue. But, not as before!

The plattenbaus are undergoing a renaissance! With generous help from the European Union, these buildings are being brought up to date with insulation and new coats of paint. These once grim estates are now looking better than ever and have so acquired a brand new feeling of “it's nice to be home!”.

And so, what started as a solution has now become a goal in itself. Many young people are now finding their first homes in these flats, and, for the elderly, they have become the perfect place to come home to. A good home is important and a plattenbau can be just as good as anything else! And, sometimes, even much better!

This Red Star of then is set to carry on shining for ever!